Posted on 09/23/2013 1:21:46 AM PDT by markomalley
Arguing federal workers should not get special treatment, Rand Paul says he does not want taxpayers subsidizing the personal health care plans of any federal employee — including Chief Justice John Roberts — anymore.
With some in Congress arguing lawmakers and their staff should not get subsidies to cover their health insurance as President Obama’s health care law goes into effect, the Republican senator from Kentucky told The Daily Caller on Sunday that he’s going to start pushing a constitutional amendment that goes even further.
Paul’s proposal — outlawing any special exemptions for government employees — would mean all federal workers would have to purchase health insurance on the new Obamacare exchanges instead of getting taxpayer-funded subsidies. Some critics say those subsidies amount to special treatment. The Obamacare health insurance exchange opens Oct 1.
“My amendment says basically that everybody including Justice Roberts — who seems to be such a fan of Obamacare — gets it too,” Paul told TheDC by phone on Sunday from Mackinac Island in Michigan, where he won a straw poll of potential Republican candidates for president in 2016.
“See, right now, Justice Roberts is still continuing to have federal employee health insurance subsidized by the taxpayer,” Paul said. “And if he likes Obamacare so much, I’m going to give him an amendment that gives Obamacare to Justice Roberts.”
Roberts famously voted to uphold the constitutionality of Obama’s unpopular health care law when it went before the Supreme Court last year.
Paul’s constitutional amendment says no federal employees should get special exemptions from laws. The senator also plans to push a proposal requiring that Congress and all federal employees rely on Obamacare for their insurance.
His proposal comes after outrage from conservatives about a so-called “exemption” for members of Congress and their staff from Obamacare.
What’s being referred to as the “Obamacare fix” for lawmakers and staff was made because the Affordable Care Act includes an amendment from a Republican senator that changes how the government currently covers most of the cost of health care premiums for members of Congress and their staffers. The new law mandates that members and staff must enter into exchanges or be covered by insurance “created” by law.
But after concerns about the cost of health care going up for congressional employees, the Office of Personnel Management announced in August that it would provide a subsidy of about 75 percent of the cost for the health care of members and staff.
Paul revealed his new amendment push on Sunday after TheDC inquired about a proposal from Louisiana Sen. David Vitter, who has proposed killing those federal Obamacare subsidies for lawmakers and their staff. “I support any effort to make all laws applicable to Congress that we pass,” Paul said.
But Paul says his proposal goes even further.
“I think mine is a little more inclusive,” Paul explained. “Mine — compared to Vitter’s — would include all federal employees, and save billions of dollars.”
He added: “Why don’t we do it for all federal employees? And mine would save quite a bit more money.”
Lawmakers, including Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, have defended the special Obamacare exemptions being made for lawmakers and their staff. Earlier this month, the Nevada Democrat flatly stated, “That’s what the law says, and we’ll be part of that.”
“We’ll be treated like the rest of the federal employees,” Reid said. “It’s nothing unique that employers help pay for health care.”
I agree. Our nation has been corrupted and hijacked via the use of such double standards by the elite.
“The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly.”
—Abraham Lincoln
Because the democrats control the Senate and will not defy Obama, the chances of a direct repeal of Obammacare are below slim and probably zero.
Paul takes one aspect of the law that DOES enrage voters—of ALL political stripes—and brings it INTO the debate.
The media and democrats don't want to talk about such things as laws they pass that they are exempt from. They'd much rather talk about those racist Republicans who hate Obama so much they'd shut down the government so that Granny doesn't get her social security check and little babies on welfare die from starvation. The template has been written and all they have to do now is run the tear-jerker stories and articles...
And then along came Paul pointing out the MASSIVE hypocrisy.
......he’s making a point for the LOW INFO VOTERS”
Making a point for Low info voters? They will never hear about this amendment and that is why we call them such. Come on.
Hostage, I am going to agree with you. Any amendment is showing that Obamacare can be fixed and it cannot. Defund it into oblivion or until it can be removed as a very terrible law.
This is the fastest way to defund obamacare. It stinks and the rich and powerful have exempted themselves. Let them be forced to use it and it will go away.
“This is the fastest way to defund obamacare.”
Bingo!
Pull out that quote today, and the Dems will tell you that it means you belong to the government, and therefore should do everything for the government’s good.
I understand that but LIVs will only remember that he advocated for Obamacare.
I am also non-plussed regarding Paul’s recent defeatism and futility expressions regarding defunding Obamacare.
Because of these ambiguous statements by Paul, also his view on immigration reform earlier in the year, I do not think he is the presidential candidate we need in 2016. I think Cruz is.
The only thing of note by Paul that made a lasting impression relates to his comment regarding Hillary Clinton’s dereliction during the Benghazi hearings. In that he was clear. He should endeavor to be so clear in all his opinions.
You miss my point entirely.
Yes, pass an amendment or propose a bill IN GENERAL to deny special exemptions or subsidies for any federal employee.
BUT DON”T MENTION IT IN THE CONTEXT OF OBAMACARE!
Because it will be misconstrued as an endorsement of Obamacare.
It’s all about the message and Cruz knows that better than practically anyone.
Yes, pass an amendment or propose a bill IN GENERAL to deny special exemptions or subsidies for any federal employee.
BUT DON”T MENTION IT IN THE CONTEXT OF OBAMACARE!
Because it will be misconstrued as an endorsement of Obamacare.
It’s all about the message and Cruz knows that better than practically anyone.
__________________________________
You have a point. Of course I would want this surrounded with information on how the feds have exempted themselves regarding obamacare.
Ron Paul will never be President.....he;s too short.....sorry....but true. In today’;s TV age you have to have certain attributes.....height is one of them.
It might be helpful to bring up the SCOTUS ruling as well. Roberts said it was a tax, so how are exemptions for a select few possibly legal?
Uh.....we are talking about Son of Paul, namely Rand.
Also Ronald Reagan was not tall. But his spirit made him a giant.
On health insurance most federal emplyee premiums are 50% of the total cost for basic plans. If we get the cadillac plans we pay more than 50%.
The retirement pensions you are complaining about are mostly nonexistent now. Civil Service Retirement system ceased to exist for new employees as of about January 1985. Not many folks are left who are covered by it.
All employees hired after that are covered by Federal Employees Retirement system which is mostly social security coupled with a thrift saving plan. FERS is a defined contribution plan, not a defiend benefit plan. It also raised the retirement age for federal workers.
Socialists/psychopaths get indignant when YOU tell THEM what to do.
FUS
Enrolling in ObamaCare is not always something to fear... The VA automatically enrolled me although I have primary coverage with Coventry, secondary Tricare, Medicare on 1 November and the Department of Veterans Affairs also pays 100% if I go there. For myself, it just means the different Insurance plans share the “Wealth”.
The old Republican Party Mantra: “Always surrender before you fight for the Republic.”
The New Republican Party Mantra: “BRING IT !”
I see no new Dr Ron Paul on the horizon!!!!!
Not that Rand Paul is not a well qualified lesser of evils...in fact, a top notch LOE!!!!!
Semper Watching
Dick G
*****
I met President Reagan several times at private parties during his two campaigns. I was 5'10" at the time. Standing next to him I estimated he was a little over 6' tall, maybe 6'1". Probably about 175-180 in weight. He carried himself erectly and his physique conveyed strength.
What I remember mostly is the fact he had that rare attribute....that certain "aura" that some notables exude when they walk in through a door. With Reagan, the room seemed to light up and become charged, all eyes became transfixed on him, men and women alike. I've heard say that Clinton at his peak had that same aura.
At any rate, I'm with a previous poster who alluded that Rand Paul may be a little too pipsqueak-ish to attain the presidency. Unfortunately, the voting public does pick up on certain physical attributes when assessing presidential candidates, especially in this television age.
Leni
I KNOW which Paul we are talking about...he’s short....Reagan wasn’t short.
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